Scottishmen in that feghting So apertlie and well them bare That all their foes rushed were And they haillie the flight hes tane In the battell were taken and slaine All haill the floure of Wollistar The Erle of Murray greit prise had there For his right worthie Cheualrie Comforted all his companie This was a well faire beginning For newlings at their arriuing In plaine feght they discomfist there These folke that aye foure for ane were Syne to Craigfergus are they gane And in the towne hes Innes tane The Castell new was stuffed then Right well with vittaill and with men Thereto they set a Siege in hy And mony ishe full apertlie Made was while the Siege there lay While truce at the last tooke they When that the folke of Wollister To his peace hailly commen were Then Sir Edward would take on hand To ride farthermore in the land The withletting of the passe of Endnellane ANd of the Kings of that Countrie There came to him and made fewtie Well ten or twelue as I heard say But they hold him short while perfay For two of them one Makgoulchane And another heght Macarthane Umbeset him into his way Where him behooued of néed to ga With two thousand men with Speares And al 's mony of their archers And all the Cattell of the land Were driuen hidder to warrand Men called that place Endnellane In all Ireland straitter is nane For thy Sir Edward there kept they And thought he should not passe that way But hée his voyage straight hes tane And euen toward the place is gane The Erle of Murray Sir Thomas That first put him to all assayes Hee lighted on foote with his MenÈie And apertlie the place tooke hee The Irish King I spake of aire That in the place embushed were Met him sull stoutlie But hée Assailed so with his MenÈie That magre theirs hée wan the place Slaine of their foes full mony was Throughout the Wood then chased they And seezed in sik aboundance the Prey That all the folke of their Host were Refreshed well an wéeke or mair At Kylsagart Sir Edward lay And there well soone hée hes heard say That at Dondalke was an assemblie Made of the Lords of that Countrie In Host they were assembled there There was first Richard of Clare That in all Ireland Lieuetenand Was to the King of England The Erle of Desmound al 's was there And the Erle also of Kildar The Bryane eke and the Wardane That were Lords of greit Renoun The Butler also there was And when Sir Morise le fitz Thomas That with their men were commen there A right greit Host forsooth they were And when Sir Edward wist surelie That there was sik a Cheualrie In hy his Host hée gart array And hidderward hée tooke his way And néere the towne tooke his Harbrie But for hee wist right perfitelie That in the towne were mony men His battells hee arrayed then And stood arrayed in battaile To keepe them if they would assaile The battell of Dondalk in Ireland That Sir Edward tooke with his hand ANd when that Sir Richard of Clare And other Lords that were there With that the Scottishmen so were neere With their battells comming were They tooke to counsell that at night For it was late they would not fight But on the morne in the morning Well soone efter the Sun-rising They should ishe foorth all that there were Therefore that night they did no maire But Harbred them on another partie That night the Scots companie Were watched right well at al their might And on the morne when day was light In two battells they them arrayed And stood with Baners in hand displayed For the Battell all readie bowne And they that were within the towne When the Sun was risen shinning cleare Send foorth of them that with them were Fiftie to see the conteening Of Scottishmen and their comming And they rade foorth and saw them soone Syne come againe withoutten hone And when that they all lighted were Then told they to their Lords there That Scottishmen seemed to be Worthie and of right great bountie But they are not withoutten weere Halfe deill a Denner to vs are here The Lords had of that tiding Great ioy and great recomforting And gart men through the Citie cry That all sould arme them hastelie When they were armed and puruayed And for the fight all haill arrayed Then went they foorth in good array Syne with their foes assembled they That keeped them right hardelie The stour began then cruellie For at her partie set all their might To rush their foes into that fight And with all paine on other dang That stalward stour lasted well lang That men might not perceiue nor sée Who most there at abone sould be For fra soone efter the Sun rising Till efter mid-noone the feghting Lasted into sik a dout But then Sir Edward that was stout With all them of his companie Shot vpon them so sturdelie That they might thole no more the fight All in a frush they tooke the flight And they followed full egerlie Into the toun all commonlie They entred both Intermelle There men might felloun slaughter sée For the right Noble Erle Thomas That with his rout followed the chase Made sik slaughter into the toun And so felloun Decisioun That all the Rewes bloodie were Of slaine men that were lying there The Lords were gotten all away And when the toun as I heard say Was through great force of feghting tane And all their foes fled or slaine They harbred them within the toun Where of vittaile was sik fusioun And so great aboundance of wine That the good Erle had dout therein That of their men sould drunken be And make in drunkennesse some melle Therefore he made of wine Lewerie To ilk man that he payed sould be And they had all inough perfay That night right well at ease were thay And right blyth of the great honour That them befell for their valour The third battell in Ireland That good Sir Edward tooke on hand EFter this fight they soiournde there Into Dondalk thrée daies or maire Then tooke they Southerward their way Erle Thomas rade before them ay And as they rade through the Countrie They might vpon the hilles see So mony men it was ferly And when the Erle would sturdelie Dresse him to them with his Baner They would flee all that euer they were So that in fight not one would byde And they foorth on their wayes did ryde While to a great Forrest came they Kylros it heght as I heard say And they tooke all their harbrie there In all this time Richard of Clare That was the Kings Lieuetenand Of all the barnage of Ireland An great Oast there assembled had That was fiue battells great and brade And Sir Edward and his men Well néere him were they commen then He gote soone witting that they were In haill battell comming néere His men addressed he them againe And gart them stoutlie
in the Mountaines 35 How King Robert was discomfist by Iohn of Lorne 38 Howe King Robert slew the three men that swore his death Fol. 41 How the Queene and the Erle of Athole departed fra the King to Kildromy 48 How the King past to Lochlowmound 50 Of the meeting of the Erle of Lennox with the King 52 How the King past to the sea 55 How the Erle of Lennox was chaist on the sea 56 How the King was receiued of Angus of the Iles and was gentâ—y entreated of him 58 How the Queene and her other Ladies were tane and prisoned and her men slaine 61 Of the siege of Kildromie and how it was betraised to the Englishmen 62 Of the death of King Edward of England 66 The illusion of the Deuill made to the mother of Ferrand Erle of Flanders and of the successe of the battell that followed thereafter 68 How Iames of Dowglas past in Arrane and gart vittall and armour there 71 How the King sent a spy in Carrik to spy wha were his friends there 76 Of the fire the King saw burning 79 Of the Kings hanselling at his first arriuing in Carrik 83 How Iames of Dowglas wan his Castell of Dowglas 97 How a man of Carrik with twa sonnes tooke in hand to slay the King Robert 97 How King Robert slew the three Traitours 101 How King Robert discomfist twa hundreth Galloway-men and slew fifteene of them 105 Howe Tydeus slewe fourtie nine men and their Captaine 108 How Iames of Dowglas slew Thriswall the Captaine of Dowglas 114 Howe sir Aymer and Iohn of Lorne searched the King with a sleuthhound 118 How King Robert slew yeâ— men that followed him 121 Howe the King was sairlie sought by the sleuthhound and how the sleuthhound was slaine 123 How the three Thieues came to the King and fainyied that they would bee his men 126 How the Kings Foster-brother was slaine and himselfe in great danger and how hee slew the three Thieues 128 How the King after his great troubles effrayed the English companie 133 How the King his hounds slew the 3 men in the wood 136 How the King discomfist sir Aymer in Glentroll 140 How sir Iames Dowglas discomfist sir Philip Mowbray with his companie at Ederfurd 143 How the King discomfist sir Aymer and his men vnder Lowdoun hill 147 How sir Iames Dowglas slew sir Iohn Webtoun and wâ— the Castell of Dowglas and syne cast it downe 156 How the King past ouer the Month and fell sick by the way 159 Howe the Kings men defended him during the time of his sicknesse 162 How the King discoÌ„fist the Erle of Buchane at Enrowry 165 Of the heirship of Buchane and howe the Castle of Forfare was tane 168 How the King wan sainct Iohnstoun and cast downe all the Tower thereof 169 Of the French Knight that was with King Robert at the winning of sainct Iohnstoun 171 How sir Edward Bruce discomfist sir Aymer and sir Ingrame Vmfrauile at the Water of Cree 174 How sir Edward Bruce with fiftie in company discomfist sir Aymer with fifteene hundreth 176 Howe sir Iames Dowglas tooke Thomas Randell and Alexander Stewart 180 How the King discomfist Iohn of Lornes meÌ„ at Creâ—labeÌ„ 182 Howe William Binny wanne the Peill of Linlithgowe through the bringing in of hay to it 182 How Thomas Randell was recounselled with the King and was made Erle of Murray 190 How Thomas Randel sieged the Castel of Edinburgh 191 How Sir Iames Dowglas by the conuoy of Sym of Lydhouse wan the Castell of Roxburgh 193 Howe Erle Thomas Randell wanne the Castell of Edinburgh by the conuoying of William Frances 198 Howe sir Edward Bruce wanne the Peill of Ruglyn and syne wanne Dundie 206 Howe sir Edward Bruce sieged Sttiuiling and of the â—rewes tane thereat 207 How King Edward gaddered a puissant armie to relieue Stâ—iuiling 208 Howe King Edward diuided his battels and tooke harbry in Edinburgh 213 How King Robert gaddered his folkes and ordered his battels to resist king Edward 216 Howe king Robert gart make deepe pots in the field ouercouered them with eâ—rd 218 How king Robert disseuered his vitaillers and carriage men fra his campe and set Erle Thomas Randell to keep the gaite beside the Kirke 220 How the Erle of Murray with an hundreth in company discomfist eight hundreth Englishmen 224 How king Robert slew sir Henrie Bowme in the face of â—aith the Oasts 228 Of the comfort giuen by king Robert to his folks 233 Of the battell of Bannocburne 242 How the Scottish vittallers and carriage men made them baners of sâ—eetes and presented theÌ„selues to the field 253 The valiantnes and death of sir Geiles de Argentie 255 How the Erle of Herfurd after the battell was receiued in Bothwell 258 Howe the king gart honourably bury the Erle of Glocester and the Castell of Striuiling was randered and sir Philip Mowbray became the kings man 262 Howe sir Iames Dowglas chased king Edward to Dumâ—ar and his company to Barwike 263 How the Castell of Bothwell the Erle of Herfurd were randred to sir Edward Bruce the Erle interchanged for the Queene and her Daughter that were prisoners 267 How king Robert rade in England and brunt Northumberland 268 Howe sir Edward Bruce with a great companie past in 〈◊〉 269 Of the first three battels sir Edward wan in Ireland 271 How the Irishmen treasonably leet our a Loâ—h on sir Edward and his company 279 Howe Erle Thomas Randell conqueissed the Irishmens vittailes 287 How Erle Thomas chased the Scurreours that came fra Cogneres 284 Of the fourth battell sir Edward wan in Ireland 286 Howe king Robert danted the Iles and tooke Iohn of Lorne 296 Howe sir Iames Dowglas reskewed the Pray tane by Englishmen and slewe sir Edmund Calhow Capitane of Barwike 296 How sir Iames Dowglas slew the Lord Newell 299 Howe king Robert past in Ireland to support his brother 303 How king Robert faught in Ireland against a great number of men and discomfist them 305 How sir Iames Dowglas in absenee of king Robert with a few company slew the Erle of Richmond 313 How sir Iames Dowglas slew Clerke Eleis and his company 317 How sir Iames Dowglas in absence of King Robert defended valiantly the Countrie 318 Howe the Bishop of Dunkeld and the Erle of Fife discomfist the Englishmen beside Dumfermeling 320 Of the returning of king Robert from Ireland 323 How Barwik was win by the moyen of Sim of Spaldin 327 Howe the King receiued the Castell of Barwike and made Walter Stewart Capitane thereof 330 How the King of England assembled his power to siege Barwike 333 Of the siege of Barwike 345 How Erle Thomas Randell and sir Iames Dowglas past and burnt in England to raise the siege from Barwike 340 Of the second assault of Barwike 343 How the siege of Barwike was skailled and the towne relieued 350 Of the death of sir Edward in Ireland and mony noble men with him 356 How King Edward againe inuaded Scotland and how sundrie of his men were slaine by sir Iames Dowglas 363 How Englishmen were discomfist at Byland 366 Of the conspiracie deuised against King Robert 370 Of the Trewes tane betwixt Scotland and England and of the death of walter Stewart 376 How the Erle of Murray and sir Iames Dowglas brunt in England till they came to Wardall Parke and of the death of King Edward of Carnauer and of his sonne Edward of Windesore 377 How Sir Iames Dowglas entred in the English Host and slew mony in their Tents 386 Howe the Scottish Host by the conuoy of Sir Iames Dowglas returned in Scotland without battell 391 How King Robert to relieue his â—olkes assembled his Host and entred into England in three parts 394 Of the peace tane and of the Mariage of Edwards sister with Dauid King Roberts sonne 395 How King Robert tooke sicknesse in Cardrosse sent for his Lords 398 How the Lord Dowglas was chosen to passe to the haly Land with the Bruces Heart and of the death of King Robert and how hee was buried in Dumfermling 401 How the Lord Dowglas past to the haly Land with the Kings heart 403 Of the great prowesse and valliantnesse done by the Lord Dowglas in Spaine 406 How the Lord Dowglas in relieuing Sir William Sinclar were both slaine by â—uge multitude of Saracenes 408 Of the noble vertues of the Lord Dowglas and a comparison betwixt him and the Romane Fabricius 410 Howe Sir William Keith brought the Lord Dowglas banes in Scotland and buried them in the Kirke of Dowglas 412 Of the death of sir Thomas Randell Gouernour of Scotland by poyson Fol eodem FINIS TABVLAE
tell his worshippes one and one He sould of them find monie one For in his time as men told me Thretteine times vanquisht was he And had victorie times seuen and fiftie He séemed not long time idle to lie By his trauell he had no will Me thinke men sould him loue of skill How Iames of Dowglas slew Webtoun And wan his Castell kest it downe THis Iames when the King was gane All priuilie his men hes tane And went to Dowglasdaill againe And priuilie hes made a traine To them that in the Castle were A bushment sâ—elie made they there And of his men fourtéene and ma He gart as they would sekkes ta Filled with gers and syne them lay Upon their horse and hold their way Right as they would to Lanerik fare Out with where they embushed were And when they of the Castell saw So feill lades ganging on raw Of that sight were they wonder fane And told it to their Capitane That heght Sir Iohn of Webroun That was both starke stout and felloun Iolie also and couragious And for that he loued Paramours He would ishe far the lightlier He gart his men all take their geare And ishe to get them vittaile For it that they had fast did faile They ished all aboundantlie And preiked foorth so wilfullie To win the lades that they saw pas Till the Dowglas and his men was Betwixt them and the Castell The lade-men then perceiued well And they cast downe their lades in hie And their gownes deliuerlie That heilled them they cast away And in great hy their horse hynt they And start vpon them sturdelie And met their foes with a crie They had great wonder when they saw Them that were eir lurking full law Come vpon them so hardelie They were abased suddenlie And at the Castle would haue bene When on the other side they haue séene Dowglas breake his Embushement That against them so stoutlie went They wist not what to doe or say Their foes on ather side saw thay That strake on them without sparing That they might help their selfe nothing But fled to warrand where they moght And they so angerlie them soght That of them all escaped nane Sir Iohn of Webtoun there was slaine And when he dead was as ye heare They fand into his Awmanneir A letter that to him sent a Ladie That he loued for Drowrie That said when he had kept one yéere In wéere as worthie Batcheléere The auentrous Castell of Dowglas That for to kéepe so perilous was Then might he well aske a Ladie His Armours and her Drowrie The Letter spake on this maner And when they slaine on this wise wer Dowglas right to the Castell rade And there so great debate he made That in the Castell entred he I wate not all the certaintie Whether it was through strength or slight For he wrought so with his great might That the Constable and all the laue That was therein both man and knaue He tooke and gaue them dispending And sent them home but more grieuing To the Cliffurde in their Countrie And syne so busilie wrought he That he all tumbled downe the wall And destroyed the houses all Syne to the Forrest held his way Where hée had many hard assay And mony faire points of wéere befell Who could them all rehearse or tell Hee should say that his name should bée Lasting in full greit Renounie How ouer the Month past the King And there fell sicke in his passing NOw will wee leaue in the Forrest Dowglas that shall haue litle rest While the Countrie deliuered bée Of Englishmen and their poustie And turne wee to the Noble King That with the folke of his leading Toward the Month hes tane his way Right short into full good array Where Alexander Fraser him met And al 's his brother that Simon het With all his folke they with him had The King of their comming was glad And cherisht them in all kin thing And they told him of the comming Of Sir Comyng Erle of Buchane That to him helpe had with him tane Sir Iohn Mowbray and other ma And Sir Dauid Brechine alswa With all the folke of their leading And yarnes more than ony thing Uengeance of you Sir King to take For Sir Iohn Cumyng his Emes sake That whilum at Drumfreis was slaine The King said So our Lord mée sane I had greit cause him for to sla And sen that they on hand will ta Because of him to weere on mée I shall abide a while and see On what wise they will prooue their might And if it fall that they will fight If they assaile wée shall deâ—end Let fall efter what God will send Efter this spéech the King in hy Held straight his way to Enrowry And there hée tooke sik a sicknesse That put him to so heard distresse That hée forbure both drinke and meat His men no Medicine might get That euer might to the King auailyiâ— His heart all haill begouth to failyie That hée might nouther ride nor goe Then wit yee well his men were woe For none was in that company That would haue béene halfe so sory For to haue seene his brother dead Lying before them in that stead As they were all for his sicknesse For all their comfort in him was And good Sir Edward the worthie His brother that was so hardie And wise and wight set meekle paine To comfort them with all his maine And when Lords that were there Saw that the euill aye mair and maire Traueld the King they thought in hy It was not spâ—edfull there to ly For there all plaine was the Countrie And they were but a few Menyie To ly but strength into the Plaine Therefore while that their Captaine Were recouered of his méekle ill They thought to wind some strengths till For folke withoutten Captaine But they the better be in paine Shall not bee all so good indéed As they a Lord had them to lead That put himselfe in auenture But abasing to take the Ure That God will send for when that hée Of sik will is and sik bounty That hée dare put him to essay His folke shall take example ay Of his good déede and his bountie And ane of them shall bee worth thrée Of them that wicked Chiftane hes His wretchednesse so in them gaes That they their manlinesse shall tyne Through wickednesse of his conuyne For when the Lord that them should leaâ— May doe nought but as hee were dead Or from his folke holds his way Fléeing trow yée not that they Uincust shall in their hearts bée â—es shall they as I trow pardie But if their hearts bée so hie They will not for their worship flée And though some bée of sik bountie When they the Lord and his Menyie Sees flée yet shall they flée a paine For all men flees the deed full faine See what hée does that so foullie Flées thus for his Cowardrie Both him and his vanquishes hee And garres his foes abone bée
hight That who so euer he were that fand His heart not sikker for to stand To win all or die with honour For to maintaine that stalward stour That he betime should take his way And none sould dwell with him but thay That would stand with him to the end And take the grace that God would send Then all answered with one cry And with one voyce said generally That none for dout of dead sould faile While discomfist were the haill battaile How the King sent fra him all haill His small folke cariage and vittaill WHen the good King hes heard his men So hardely answere him then Saying that nouther dead nor dread To sik discomfort sould them lead That they sould eschew the feghting In heart he had great reioycing For him thought men of sik hauing So good so hardy and so fyne Sould well in battell hold their right Against men of full méekle might Syne all the small folke and puraill He sent with harnesse and vittaill Into the Parke right far him fra And gart them fra the battell ga And as he bade they went their way Twentie thousand néere were thay They held their way to a valley Out of the sight of the great battellyie Of men of armes wight and hardy The King left with a cleane Menyie That were togidder twentie thousand That I trow stalwardly sall stand And doe their deuoure as they aw They stood then raynged on a raw Ready for to byde battailyie Gif ony folke would them assailyie How the King bade the Erle Murray To keepe beside the Kirke the way THe King then gart them busked be For he wist into certainetie That Englishmen with méekle might Had lyen at the Falkirk that night And syne to him the way all straight Held with their men of méekle might Therefore to his Neuoy bad he The Erle of Murray with his Menyie Beside the Kirk to kéepe the way That none sould passe that gaite perfay Without debate to the Castell And he said that himselfe sould well Kéepe the entrie with his battaile Gif that ony would there assaile And syne his brother Sir Edward And young Walter the good Steward And the Lord Dowglas alswa With their Menyie good tent sould ta UUhilk of them had most mister Sould help with them that with them wer The King then sent Iames of Dowglas And Sir Robert of Keith that was Marshall of all the Oast in fée The Englishmens comming for to sée And they lap on withoutten bade UUell horsed men with them they had And soone the great Oast haue they séene UUhere shields shining were so shéene And Basnets byrnished so bright That gaue against the Sunne sik light They saw so mony browdred Baners Standerds and Pensalls vpon speares And so feill Knights vpon Stéedes And flawming in their â—oly wéedes And so feill battells and so brade And tooke so great rowme as they rade That the most Oast and the best Of Christendome and the lykliest Sould be abased for to sée Their foes into sik quantitie And so arrayed for to fight UUhen their discurreours had sight Of their foes as I heard say Toward the King they tooke their way And told him into priuitie The multitude and the beautie Of their foes that came so brade And of the great might that they had Then the King bade that they sould ma No countenance as it were swa But bade them into common say That they came into ill array To comfort his men through that wise For oft times of a word may rise Discomfort and tynsall withall And al 's well through a word may fall Comfort may rise and hardement To garmen come to their intent And on the same wise did it heare Their comfort and their hardie cheare Comforted them so gretumlie That of their Host the least hardie By countenance would formest bée For to begin the greit melle How with a hundreth the Erle of Murray To aught hundreth battell gaue VPon this wise the Noble King Gaue to his men greit comforting Through hardie countenance and cheare That hee made on so good maneere They thought that no mischiefe might bée So greit with thy they might him sée Before them that should so engréeue But his worship should them relieue His worship them comforted sa And countenance that hée did ma. That the most Coward was hardie On other halfe full sturdelie The Englishmen in sik array As yee haue heard mee forrow say Came with their battalles approaching Their Banners to the wind waiuing And when they commen were so neere That but two myle betwixt them were They chused a â—oly companie Of wight men armed â—olelie On faire Coursers ar med at right And great Lords of méekle might There was Capitane of that rout The Lord Cliffurd that was so stout Was of them all soueraigne leader Aught hundreth armed I trow they were They were all young men and joly Yarning for to doe Cheualry The best of all the Hoste were they Of countenance and of array They were the fairest companie That men might find of so mony To the Castell they thought to fare For if that they might well come there They thought it should rescued bee Foorth on their way held this Menyie And toward Striâ—iling held their way Beneath the Parke eschewed they For they wist well the King was there And beneath the Parke so can they fare Under the Kirke into a rout The Erle Thomas that was so stout When hee saw them so take the Plaine In full greit by went them againe With an hundreth withoutten moe Annoyed in his heart and woe That they so far were passed by For the King had him said rudely That a Rose of his Chaiplet Was fallen for hée was set To kéepe the way tha men were past Therefore hee hasted him so fast That commen into short time was hée In the plaine fielde with his MenÈie For hée thought that hee should amend That hée trespassed had or then end And when the Englishmen him saw Come on withoutten dread or aw And tooke so hardelie the Plane In hy they went then him againe And strake with spurs the Stéedes stight That bare them euen and hard and suight And when the Erle saw that Menyie Come so stoutly to his men said hée Bée not abashed for their shore But set your Speares you before And backe to backe set all your rout And all your speare points out That gate defend vs best may wée Enuironed with them gif wée bée And as hee bade so haue they done And the other came on all soone Before them all there came prickand A Knight hardy of heart and hand And was a well greit Lord at hame Sir William the Hawcourt was his name And pricked at them so hardelie And they met him so sturdelie And he and horse were both borne down And slaine right there without ransoun With Englishmen greitlie was hée Méened that day for his bountie The laue come on full sturdelie But none
Knight Was wounded through the body there With a speare that tight sharply share But to Mount Peller went hee syne And lay there long into Léeching But at the last healed was hee Sir Edward then with his MenÈie Tooke in the towne their Harbaie That night they blyth were and jolie For the victorie that they had there And on the morne withoutten maire Sir Edward gart men gang and see All the vittaile of that Citie And they found sik fusioun therein Of corne and floure and wax and winâ— That they of it had greif ferlie And Sir Edward gart haille lie To Craigfergus it caried bee Syne hidder hee went with his MenÈie And held the Siege full stalwartly While Palme sunday was passed by Then to the Tuesday in Pasch Oulk On either side they trewes tooke So that they might that holy tiâ—e In pennance and in prayed bide But vpon Pasch Euen â—ight To the Castell into the night From Divilling came shippes fifteene Charged with armour and men bedeene Three thousand trow I well they were That entred in the Castell there The Maundwell also and Sir Thomas Capitane of that MenÈie was In the Castell full priuilie They entred for they gaâ—â— spy That mony of Sir Edwards men Were skailled in the Countrie then Therfore they thought in the morning To ishe but longer delaying And to supprise them suddenly For they thought they should traâ—stly For the trewesse that taken were But I trow falset euer maire Shall haue mischiefe and euill ending Sir Edward wist of this nothing For of treason had hée no thought But for the trewes hée letted nought To set watches to the Castell Ilk night hée gart wake it full well And Neill Fleming woke that night And sextie worthie men and wight And assoone as the day was cleare They that within the Castell were Had armed them and made them bowne And syne the draw-brig they lot downe They ished then in greit plentie And when Neill Fleming can them sée Hée sent one to the King in hy Syne said to them that was him by Now shall men sée I vndertake Who dar for his Lords sake Now beare you well for sikkerlie With all yone MenÈie feght will I Into bargane them hold shall wée While that our Master armed bée And with that word assembled they That were all out too few perfay With sik a greit rout for to fight And not for thy with all their might They dang on them so hardelie That all their foes had greit ferlie That they were all of sik manhéed That they no dread had of their dead But their feill foes so can assaile That there might no worship auaile But they were slaine vp euerilkane So cléene that there escaped nane And the man that went to the King For to warne him of their ishing Warned him in full great hy Sir Edward was then commonly Called the King of all Ireland And when he had sik haste on hand In full great haste he got his geare Twelue with him in his chamber were That armed them in full great hy Syne with his Baner hardely The mids of the towne he taes With that néere comming were his foes That had delt all their men in thrée The Maundewile with a great Menyie Right throgh the town the way held down The laue on other side the towne Held to méete them that fléeing were They thought that all that they fand there Should die but ransome euerilkane But otherwise the gyse is gane For Sir Edward with his Banéere And his twelue that I told of eir On all the rout so hardelie Assembled that it was ferlie For Gib Harper before him yéed That was the doughtiest of déed That might be found of his estate And with an Axe made him sik gaite That he the first felled to the ground And syne into a litle stound The Mandewile by his arming 〈◊〉 knew and raught him sik a swing That he to eird past hastely Sir Edward that was néere him by Reuersed him and with a knife Right in that place he rest his life With that of Ardrossane Sir Fergus That was a wight Knight and courageous Assembled with sextie men and ma They preassed then their foes sa That they that saw their Lord slaine Tint heart and would haue bene againe And ay as Scottishmen might be Armed they came to the melle And dang vpon their foes sa That they haillie the backe can ta And tha men chased to the yait There was great fight and hard debaite There slew Sir Edward with his hand A Knight that of all Ireland Was called best and of most bountie To surname Maundewile heght he His proper name I can not say But his folke to so hard assay Was set that they of the Dungeoun Durst open no yait nor brig let doun Sir Edward so then fought perfay That ished foorth on him that day That there escaped neuer ane But they were either slaine or tane For to the fight Manakill then Came with two hundreth of speare-men And they slew all they might to win This ilk Manakill with a gin Wan of their shippes foure or fiue And hailly reft the men their life When end was made of that feghting Yet then was life in Neill Fleming Sir Edward went him for to sée About him slaine lay his Menyie All in a lump on ather hand And he to die readie thrawand Sir Edâ—ard of him had great pitie And him full greatlie méened he And â—egrated his great manhéed His worship and his doughtie déede Sik mone he made they had ferlie For he was not customablie Wont for to mene ony thing Nor would not heare men make méening He stood there by while he was dead And syne had him to hallowed Stéed And syne with worship gart him be Eirded with great solemnitie How King Robert wan the Iles to hand And gart his shippes saile on dry land IN this wise ished Mandewile But wit ye well that fraud and guile Sall alwayes haue an euill ending As well was séene by this ishing In time of trewes ished they And in sik time as on Pasch day When Christ raise to saue mans kin Fra weme of old Adames sin Therefore so great mischance them fell That ilk one as ye heard me fell Was slaine vp or els taken there And they that in the Castell were Were set in sik a fray that hour That they could sée no where succour Sould come to relieue them that day That shortlie then treitted they To yéeld the Castell to him free To saue their liues and certes he Held them full well all his cunnand The Castell tooke he in his hand And vittailde it well and in it set A good UUardane it for to get And there a while rested he Of him no more now speake will we BOt to King Robert will we gang That we haue left vnspoken of lang When he had conuoyed to the sea His brother Edward with his Menyie With his shippes he
King are gane The King I wish was wonder fane That they returned haill and féere And that they sped on that maneere That they their foes discomfist had And but tynsell of men had made Recourse to them that in Barwike Were assieged right faire and thicke That into full greit danger wes Through strength of them that sieged hes And when the King had spéered tithand How they had farne into England And of their journey what progresse That they haue had and what successe And they haue told him all their fare How Englishmen discomfist were Right blith into his heart was hée And made them Feast with game and glée Barwike was on this maner Reskewed and they that therein were Hée was worthie a Prince to bée Through manhéede and subtilitie That could with wit so hie a thing But tynsell bring to good ending To Barwicke syne the King goes And when hee heard syne how it was Defended so doone manfullie Hée loued them that were there greitlie Walter Stewarts greit bountie Attour the laue commended hée For the right greit defence hée made At the Èet where men brunt had The brig as yée heard mée deuise And Certes hee was meekle to praise That so stoutlie with plaine feghting At open Yate made sik defending Might hee had liued while hee had beene Of persite eild withoutten wene His Renowne should haue streiked fer But death that watches euer ner Into the flour of his Youthheed Made end of all his doughtie déede As â— shall tell furthermare When the King had a while beene there Hee sent for Masouns far and néere That sleest were of that mistéere And gart well tenfoote hie the wall About Barwike the towne ouer all And syne toward Louthiane With his MenÈie his gate hes tane And syne hée gart ordaine in hy Both armed men and Yemanrie Into Ireland in hy to fare To helpe his brother that was there But hée that rest annoyed ay And would in trauell bee alway Ane day before the arriuing Of them were sent him from the King Hée tooke his way Southward to fare Magre them all that with him were For hee had not then in that land Of all men I trow two thousand Except the Kings of the â—rishrie That in greit routes rade him by Toward Dondalk hee tooke his way And when Richard of Clare heard say That hée came with a few MenÈie All that hee might assembled hée Of all Ireland of armed men So that hée had there with him then Of trapped Horses twentie thousand By them that were on foot gangand And held foorth Northward on his way And when Sir Edward heard men say That commen néere to him was hée Hée sent Discurreours him to see The Sowles and the Stewart were they And al 's Sir Philip the Mowbray And when they séene had their comming They went againe to tell tithing And said they were well mony men In hy Sir Edward answered then And said that hee should feght that day Though fiue or sixe times moe were they Sir Iohn Stewart said sickerlie I reede yee feght not in sike hy Men sayes your brother is cummand With fifteene hundreth men at hand And were they knit with you yee might Abide stalwartlie the fight Sir Edward looked right angerlie And to the Sowles said in hy What sayest thou Sir hee said perfay As my Fellow said Sir I say Then to Sir Philip the Mowbray said he Sir said hee so our Lord mee see Mee thought it folie for to byde Yone men that speedes them to ride For wee are few our foes are feill God may right well our Weirds deill But it were wonder that our might Sould ouercome so feill in fight Then with great ire alace said he I weind neuer to haue heard that of thée Now help who will for sickerly This day but more bade fight will I. Sall no man say while that I die That strength of men sall gar me flée GOD shield that ony sould vs blame That we deale our Noble fame Now be it swagait then said they We sall take that GOD will puruay And when the Kings of Irishry Heard say and wist it sickerly That their King with so whéene wald fight Against so mony of méekle might They came to him in full great hy And counselde him full tenderly For to abide his men and they Sould hold their foes all that day Doing and on the morne alswa UUith their assaults that they sould ma. But there might no counsell auaile He would all gaites to the battell And when they saw he was so thra To fight they said ye may well ga But we will quite vs vtterlie To fight with yone great companie For none of vs will stand to fight Trust not therefore into our might For our maner is in this land To follow and to fight flée and And not to stand in plaine Melle UUhile the one part discomfist be He said sen that your custome is I aske no more of you but this That is that ye and your Menyie UUould all togidder arrayed be And stand on farre but departing And see our feght and our ending They said well that they sould doe sa And syne toward their foes can ga They were well threttie thousand néere Edward and they that with him were They were not fully two thousand Arrayed then stalwardly to stand Against threttie thousand and ma. Sir Edward that day would not â—a His Coat-armour bot Gib Harper That men held as withoutten peere Of his estate had on that day All haill Sir Edwards array The feght abade they on this wise And in great hy their enemies Came to assemble all ready And they met them right hardely They were so few the sooth to say That rushed with their foes were they And they that most preassed to stand Were slaine downe and the remanand Fled to the Irishry for succour Sir Edward that had sik valour Was dead and Sir Iohn Stewart alswa And Sir Iohn Sowles al 's with tha And other of their company They vanquisht were so suddenly That few into the Plaine were slaine For the laue hes their wayes tane To the Irish Kings that were there That in haill battell howing were Iohn Thomson that was leader Of them of Carrike that were there When he saw the discomfiting Withdrew him to an Irish King That of his acquaintance had he And he receiued him in daintie And when Iohn commen was to the King He saw men lead fra the feghting Sir Philip Mowbray the wight That had bene discomfist in the fight And by the armes led was he With two men vpon the Caussey That was betwixt them and the toun That streiked long in a randoun Toward the toun they held their way And when in mids the Caussey were theâ— Sir Philip of his businesse Ouercome and perceiued he was Tane and swagaites led with twa The one he swakked soone him fra And syne the other in great hy He drew his sword deliuerly And to
Quéene to England home is gane And had with her the Mortymer The Erle and they that leaued were When a whyle they her conuoyed had Toward Barwike againe they rade And syne with all their company Toward the King they went in hy And had with them the young Dauy And al 's Dame Iane the young Lady The King made them faire welcomming And efter but long delaying He hes gart set a Parliament And hidder with mony men is went For he thought he would in his life Crowne his young Sonne and his Wife At that Parliament and so did he With great fare and solemnitie The King Dauid was crowned there And all his Lords that there were And also all the Commountie Made him homage and fewtie And before that they crowned were King Robert gart ordaine there Gif it fell that his sonne Dauy Died but Aire Male of his body That Robert Stewart sould be King and brooke the Royaltie That his Doughter bare in Mariage And that this Tailyie sould leelely Be holden all the Lords sware And with their Seales affirmed if there And gif it hapned Robert the King To passe to GOD while they were ying The good Erle of Murray Sir Thomas With the Lord also of Dowglas While they had wit to stéere their Reigne Sould haue them into gouerning And then the Lordship they sould ta Hereto their aithes can they ma And all the Lords that were there To tha twa Wardanes aithes sware To obey them into Lawtie Gif it hapned them UUardanes to be WHen all this thing thus treated was And affirmed with sickernes The King to Cardros went in hy And there him tooke so suddenly His sicknesse and him trauelde sa That he wist him behooued ma Of all this life the common end That is the death when GOD will send Therefore his Letters soone sent hée For all the Lords of his Countrie And they came as hee bidden had His Testament then hes hee made Before both Lords and Prelats And to Religions of seir Estates For haill of his soule gaue hee Siluer into greit quantitie Hee ordainde for his soule right well And when this was done ilk deill Lords hee said so it is gone With mée that there is nought but one That is the death withoutten dreed That ilke man shall thole on need And I thanke God that hes mée sent Space in our life here to repent For through mée and my wéering Of blood there hes beene greit spilling Where mony saklesse man was slaine Therefore this sicknesse and this paine I take in thanke for my trespasse And mine heart firmlie set was And when I was in prosperitie From my sinnes to saued bée To trauell vpon Gods faes And sen hée mee now to him taes That the body may on no wise Performe that the heart can deuise I would mine heart were hidder sent Wherein conceiued was that intent Therefore I pray you euerilkane That yee among you all chuse ane That bée honest wise and wight And of his hands a Noble Knight On Gods foes mine Heart to beare When soule and bodie disseuered are For I would it were worthelie Had there sen God will nought that I Had power hidderward to goe Then were their hearts all so woe That none might hold them from gréeting Hee bade them leaue their sorrowing For it hée said might not reliue And might themselues greitlie grieue Hee prayed them in hy to do The thing that they were charged to Then went they foorth with drerie moode And among them that thought it good That the worthie Lord Dowglas Whom in both wit and worship was Should take the trauell vpon hand Héereto they were all accordand And to the King they went in hy And told him that they thought truely That the doughtie Lord Dowglas Best ordainde for that trauell was And when the King heard that they sa Had ordainde him his Heart to ta That hee most yarned should it haue Hee said so God himselfe mée the saue I hold mee right well payed that yee Haue chosen him for his bountie For Certes it hes béene my yarning Ay sen I thought to doe this thing That he mine heart should with him beare And sen yee all assented are It is the more liking to mée Let see now what thereto sayes hée And when the Lord of Dowglas Wist that the King thus spoken hes Hée â—â—me and knéeled to the King And on this wise made his talking I thanke you greitly Lord said hee Of mony larges and greit bountie That yée haue done to mée feill syse Sen first I came to your seruice But ouer all thing I make thanking That yée so digne and worthie a thing As your heart that illuminate was With all bountie and worthinesse Will that I in my kéeping take For you right blithly will I make This trauell if God will mée giue Laiser and space so long to liue The King him thanked tenderlie There was none in that companie That wéeped not for greit pitie That was greit sorrow for to sée Here died King Robert and was syne Solemnedly buried in Dumfermling WHen the Lord Dowglas in this wise Hes vndertane so hie Emprise As the good Kings Heart to beare On Gods foes for to weare Praised for his Emprise was hée And the Kingâ— infirmitie Was more and more while at the last The dulefull death approached fast And when hée had gart doe him to All that good Christen men should do With true repentance then hée gaue The gaist whilke GOD to Heauen mot haue Among his Chosen for to bee In Ioye solace and Angels glée And fra his folke wist hée was dead The sorrow that raise from stead to stead There might men sée men riue their haire And comlie Knights gréete full saire And their hands togidder driue And as wood men their claithes ryue Regarding his worthie bountie His wit his strength and honestie And ouer all the greit companie That hee oft made them courteouslie All our defence they said alas And hee that haill our comfort was Our wit our heale our gouerning Is brought alace here to ending His worship and his méekle might Made all that were with him so wight That they might neuer abased bée While before them they might him sée Alace what shall wee doe or say For in life while hee lasted ay With all our foes dred were wée And into mony other Countrie Of our Worship ran the Renowne And that was all for his Persoun With sike words they made their mane And sickerlie wonder was nane For better Gouernour than hée Might in no Countrie founden bee I hope that none that is on life The lament and sorrow can descriue That tha folke for their Lord made And when that they long sorrowed had And he bowelled was cleanely And balmed syne full richly The worthy Lord the good Dowglas His Heart as it forespoken was Hes receiued in great dayntie UUith great faire and Solemnitie They haue him had to Dunfermelyne And him
solemnedly eirded syne And in a faire Tombe in the Queire Bishops and Prelats they there were Assolyied him when the Seruice Was done as they could best deuise And syne vpon the other day Sorie and wa they went away Here bouned the Lord Dowglas forwart To the haly Land with the Bruces Heart WHen that the good King buried was The Erle of Murray Sir Thomas Tooke all the land in gouerning And all obeyed to his bidding And the good Lord of Dowglas syne Gart make a Case of gold right fyne Enamalled through subtiltie Therein the Kings heart put he And ay about his halse it bare And fast he bouned him for to fare His Testament deuised he And ordained his lands sould be Gouerned while his gaine-comming By friends and all other thing That to him pertained ony wise With sik foresight as men could deuise Ere his foorth passing ordained he That nothing might amended be And when that he his lieue hes tane To shippe at Barwike is he gane And with him a Noble company Of Knights and of Squyery He put him in hy to the Sea A long way fordward sailed he Betwixt Cornewall and Bartanyie He sailed and left the ground of Spainyie On North-halfe him and held their way While to Massillie ground came they But greatly was his men and he Trauelled with tempests on the Sea Bot though they greatly grieued were Haill and feere they commen are And landed at the great Sibille And efter it a litle whyle Their horse to land they drew ilkane And in the toun hes harbery tane And him conteened right richly For he had a faire company And gold enough for to dispend The King Alphous efter him send And him right well receiued he And proffered him in great plentie Gold and siluer horse and arming Bot he thereof would take nothing For he said he tooke that veyage To passe into his pilgrimage On Gods foes that his trauell Might efter to his Saull auaile And sen he wist that he had wéere With Saracens that dwelled there To help him was his will hailly The King him thanked courteously And betaught him good men that were Well knowne with the lands wéere And the maner of the land alswa Syne to his Innes can he ga And well good Soiourne there he made And méekle treating al 's he had Knights that came of far Countrie Came in great routtes him to sée And honoured him full gretumly And ouer all men most Souerainely The English Knights that were there Him honoured and great company bare Among them all was one strong Knight That was holden so wonder wight That for one of the best was he Praised of all Christaintie So fast to Heauen was all his face That it well néere all wounded was Ere he the Lord Dowglas had séene He weind his face had all wounded bene But neuer a hurt in it had he When he vnwounded can it sée He said that he had great ferly That sik a Knight and so worthy And praised of so great bountie Might in his face vnwounded be And méekely thereto answered he And said GOD lent me hands to beare Wherewith I might my head wéere Thus made he courteous answering With a right hie vnderstanding That for default of Fence it was That so euill hewen was his face The good Knights that then were by Praised his answere gretumly For it was made with small speaking And had right hie vnderstanding The iudging of the Lord Dowglas That in his time sa worthie was VPon this maner still they lay While through the Countrie they heard say That the King of Palmeryn UUith mony a moody Saracene UUas entred in the land of Spaine All haill the Countrie to demaine The King of Spaine on the other party Gaddered his Oast deliuerly And delt them into battels thrée And to the Lord Dowglas gaue he The Uangard for to lead and stéere And all the strangers that with him were And the great Maister of Sanct Iake The other battell gart he take The Réeregard made himselfe there And thus deuised foorth they fare To méete their foes that in battaile Arrayed was ready to assaile And came against them full sturdely The Dowglas then that was worthy UUhen he to them of his leading Had made a faire admonishing To doe well and no dead to dréede For Heauens blisse sould be their meede If that they died in Gods seruice Then as good wéerryours and wise With them stoutlie assembled hée There men might felloun feghting sée For all they were wight and hardie That were on the Christian partie But ere they joyned in battell What the Dowglas did I shall you tell ¶ The Bruces Heart that on his brest Was hinging in the field hée kest Upon a stone-cast and well more before And said Now passe thou foorth before As thou was wont in field to bee And I shall follow or else die And so hee did withoutten ho Hée faught euen while hee came it to And tooke it vp in greitâ— daintie And euer in field this vsed hée So fast they faught with all their maine That of their seruants mony were â—laine The whilke with mony â—ell fusioâ—n Mony a Christian dang they downe But at the last the Lord Dowglas And the Christians that with him was Preassed vpon the Saracenes sa That they haillie the flight can ta And they chased with all their maine And mony in the chase was slaine So farre chased the Lord Dowglas With few folkes that hée passed was Foorth fare from them that chased then Hee had not with him but skant ten Of all men that were with him there When hee saw all repared were Toward his Hust syne turned hée And as hée turned can well sée That all the Chaissers turned againe And they réelled with méekle paine And as the good Lord of Dowglas As I said aire repairing was So saw hée right before him néere Where that Sir William de Sincleere With a greit rout inuironed was Hée was annoyed and said alas Yone worthie Knight will soone bee dead But he haue helpe through our manhead Let vs then helpe him now in hy Sen that wee are so néere him by And I wate well our intent is To liue and die in Gods seruice His will in all thing doe shall wee There shall no perill eschewed bée While hée bee put out of yone paine Or then wée shall bée with him slaine With that with speares right spéedely They strake the Horse in full greit hyâ— Among the Saracenes they rade And roome about them haue they made They dang on fast with all their might And feill of them to death were dight Greiter defence made neuer so whéene Against so feill it was right seene While theâ— might last to giue battaile There might no worship there auaile That time for slaine was ilkane there The Saracenes so mony were That they were twentie large for ane The good Lord Dowglas there was slaine And Sir William Sinclare alswa And other worthie Knights twa
losse more vehemently prouoked to reuenge summond the Ballioll thrise to compeare before him at Newcastle and because he compeared not at all hee sent for Bruce and promised him the Kingdome if hee would write to his friendes either to leaue their King or to flee in battell The King with all diligence past toward Barwike where finding the towne strongly garnished with men and comming small speed in his pursute hee fained a retreat and caused some of the Bruces faction sparse brutes that the Ballioll with a great Oast was euen there at hand whereupon the most notable men of the towne supponing themselues to bee free of the common enemie ran foorth for to receiue their King honourably and so both horse and foote went out of the towne confusedlie But Edward had appointed a number of horsemen to wait vpoÌ„ that turne who cutted them off easilie from their companies beeing vshed so confusedly and out of order and comming to the next Port entred in the towne the King with his foot-hoste following made miserable slaughter vpon all sorts of people increasing in multitude sent a part of his armie to besiege Dumbar himselfe within few dayes receiued the Castell of Barwike which the keepers randred despairing of reliefe then joyning all his forces together at Dumbar encountred with the Scots hoste which came hither with a great battell to raise the siege the victorie enclined to the English side The chiefe men of the Nobilitie fledde to the Castell but the Captaine not hauing Viuers sufficient to sustaine such a multitude randered and all kinde of crueltie execute vppon the captiues But when the Bruce desired the Kingdome in recompense of his trauell and according to promise Edward answered him in French haue we nothing ado but to purchase Kingdomes for you Dumbar and some other Castles vppon the Border beeing randred Edinburgh and Striuiling were deliuered also from Striuiling Edward passed Forth and marched towards Forfare where the Ballioll was when without impediment hee came to Monrosse The Ballioll by perswasion of Iohn Cummine of Strabogie randred himselfe the Kingdome into King Edwards hands whom he shipped sent into England Edward returned to Barwike by sharpe edict summond all the Scottish Nobilitie to come thither such as came were compelled to sweare obedience vnto him William Dowglas a man of Noble blood and valiant refusing to sweare was cast in prison where within few yeeres he died Thus all things succeeding to his wish hee appointed Iohn Warreâ— Erle of Surrey Viceroy Hew Cressingham Thesaurer and leauing them behind him hee returned to London where hee warded Iohn Ballioll when hee had reigned 4. yeeres But hee within a short space at the request of the Bishop of Rome was sent to France leauing his sonne Edward in pledge for him Afterward Edward with a great army tooke shipping to passe in France The Scots in esperance of liberty hee being absent chused twelue Regents and by all their aduises Iohn Cummine Erle of Buchan with a sufficient armie was sent in England The English Garrisons left in Scotland dispersed heere and there durst not stirre so hee without impediment spoyled Cumberland and Northumberland Albeit this voyage somewhat incouraged the Scots yet did it but small help to the whole warre for all strong holds were fortified by the enemies garrisons But while as Noblemen lacked both strength and sufficient courage to enterprise greater matters VVilliam VVallace a man of Noble and ancient Family who did Actes in those Warres not only aboue all mens exspectatioÌ„ but also incredible being a man of great bodily strenght high courage He hardened his body against injuries of Fortune and confirmed his courage by perillous attempts to enterprise higher and greater euen with danger he gathered vnto him some companie of Men and herewith not only slew any Englishmen he met with but often times aâ—so with few foght with great numbers in sundrie places where he met with them slew them In short space his fam filled both the Realms so they that had lik causes as he had not vnlike loue to their Countrey gathering together swarmed to him from all parts and within few moneths he amassed an indifferent Army Noblemen for feare or lashnes lying still Wallace was proclaimed Gouernour and as Lieutenant for Ballioll commanded as lawfull Magistrate Hee tooke not this name of pride or of desire to Empire but only like another Sampson vpon compassion and loue of his Countrey-people After this he essayed with open force tooke many Castells either not sufficiently furnished or not weill guarded or negligently kept and razed them His Men of Warres minds were so confirmed that vnder his conduct they feared no perrill for that his hardiment lacked neuer wisdom nor his wisdome the wished euent So in short space he wan all the Forts that Englishmen possessed beyond Forth King Edward hearing these rumours and hauing all his Army with him in France he wrote to Henrie Pearsie Lord of Northumberland to William Latimer to raise quickly Forces out of the next adjacent Countrey and joyne themselues with Cressinghame to suppres the Scots Wallace in this time besieged the Castle of Cowper in Fyfe to the end his men of warre should not be idle attending the coming of the English army his enimies now cuming neare marched directly to Striuiling The Riuer of Forth hath no foords at Striuiling Yet there was a vvoodden bridge ouer the vvhich Cressinghame past vvith the great part of his aâ—mâ— the rest following so thick the bridge being ouerburthened vvith so hudge a weght brak in pieces The Scots charged these that vvere past before they could be Arayed slew their leader droue backe the rest in the water with so huge a slaughter that almost the whole were either slain by the Scots or drownd in the riuer Wallace after this so followed his fortune that he left not an Englishman in Scotland except prisoners This victory was obtained vpoÌ„ the Ides of Septemb. 1297. Hereafter followed great Famine for not manuring of the ground and Pest followed Hunger wherof greater destruction was feared than of the Warre Wallace to remedy this aswell as he might charged al sensible men to come vnto him at a certain day caried them with him into England vvhere liuing in vvinter in their enemies lands they spared Viuers at home vvhere he remained from the kalends of Nouember vnto the kal. of Febr. and no man durst match him And then hauing inriched theÌ„selfs vvith their enemies spoyls returned with great glory As this journey augmented Wallaces fame and authority among the people so it increased the Noble mens enuy against him vvhereof Edw. being priuy setting things in France in order as time would permit leauing his old souldiers beyond sea amassing a very great army vpon the sudden of nouices he marched toward Scotland but wheÌ„ in the plain of Stanemure both armies stood in order of battel about half a mile from other Edw. viewing Wall hoste
befell Mony sore point as I heard tell The whilk are not all written here But I wote well that in that yéere Threttéene Castels with strength he wan And ouercame mony a moody man And who of him the sooth would read Had he had measure in his déede I trow that worthier than he In his time might not founden be Except his brother alanerly To whome into good Cheualry I dare compare none was in his day For he led him with measure ay And with wit all his Cheualry He gouerned ay so worthely That he full oft vnlikly thing Brought right well to a good ending How Iames Dowglas tooke Thomas Randell And Alexander Stewart as I heard tell IN all that time Iames of Dowglas Into the Forrest ay trauelling was And it through hardement and slight Occupied all magre the might Of his feill foes the whilk thay Set him oft syes in hard assay But oft through wit and through bountie His purpose to good end brought he Into that time himselfe through cace One night as he trauelling was And thought to haue had his resting In a house by the Water of Lynâ— And as he came with his Menyie Neere hand the house so listned he And heard their Sawes euerilke deill And he by that perceiued well That they were strange men that there That night in that house harbred were And as he thought so fell through cace For of Bonkill the Lord there was Alexander Stewaâ—t heght he With other two of great bountie Thomas Randell of great Renoun And also Adam of Gordoun That came there with great companie And thought in the Forrest to lie And occupie it with all their might And with trauell and stalward fight To chase Dowglas from that Countrie But otherwise all yéed the glée When Iames of Dowglas had witting And al 's to him there came tyding That strange men had tane harberie Into the place where he shupe to lie He to that place past hastelie Both he and all his companie And vmbeset the house about When they within heard sik a rouf About the house they raise in hy And tooke their geare right hastely And came foorth fra the haruest were Their foes them met with weapons bare And them assailyied right hardelie And they defended doughtelie With all their might while at the last Their foes preassed them so fast That their folke failed them ilkane Thomas Randell there was tane And Alexander Stewart alswa Wounded into one place or twa Adame of Gordoun fra the fight What through strength and what through slight Escaped and al 's seire of their men But they that were arreisted then Were of their taking wonder wa But néedlings them behooude be sa That night good Iames of Dowglas Made to Sir Alexander that was His Emes sonne right gladsome chéere So did he al 's withoutten wéere To Thomas Randell for that he Was to the King in néere degrée Of blood for his sister him bare And on the morne withoutten maire Toward the noble King he rade And with him both the two he had The King of that present was blyth And thanked him thereof feill syth And to his Neuoy can he say Thou hes a whyle renounâ—d thy fay But now recounsailde thou mon be Then to the King answered he And said ye chastie me but ye Ought better for to chastyed be For sen ye weirrayed the King Of England into plaine feghting Ye sould preasse to direnye you right With might and not yet with slight The King said yet fall it may Ere it be long to sik assay But sen thou speakes so rudely It is great reason that men chasty Thy proud words while that thou knaw The right and duerie that thou aw The King without more delaying Sent him to be in firme keeping UUhere that he a whyle sall be Nought all vpon his owne poustie How the King at Gleclabâ—n Discomfist Iohn of Lornes men WHen Thomas Randel on this wise Was taken as I here deuise And sent to dwell in firme kéeping For his speech he spake to the King The King that thought vpon the skaith The despite and the velanie baith That Iohn of Lorne had to him doone His â—ist assembled hée alsoone And toward Lorne hée tooke the way With all his men in good array But Iohn of Lorne of his comming Long ere hée came had good witting And men on ilke side gathered hée I trow two thousand they might bée And sent them for to stop the way Where the good King behooued to ga Clochmabanie heght that mountaine I trow that into all Britaine A higher Hill may not founden bée There Iohn of Lorne gart his menyie Enbushed bee aboue the way If the King held that gait perfay Hée thought hée should soone vanquisht be And himselfe held him on the sea Well neere the place with his Gaillayes But the King that at all assayes Was founden wise and right wittie Perceiued well their subtiltie And him houed that gaite to goe His men departed hée in two And that to the good Lord of Dowglas In whom all vertue winning was Hée taught his Archers euerilkane And the good Lord hes with him tane Sir Alexander the Phraser wight And William Wiseman a good Knight And with them then Sir Andro Gray That with their Menyie held their way And clambe the Hill deliuerly And ere they of the other party Perceiued them they had ilkane The hight abone their foes tane The King and his men held their way And when into the place were they Entred the folke of Lorne in hy Upon the King raised the cry And shot and tumbled on them stanes Both greit and heauie for the nanes But they skaithed not greitly the King For hee had there in his leading Men that light and deliuered were And light armour vpon them bare So that they stoutly clambe the Hill And stopped their foes to fulfill The most part of their fellony And al 's vpon the other party Came Iames of Dowglas and his rouâ— And shot vpon them with a shout And wounded themwith arrows fast And with their Swords at the last They rushed among them hardely But they of Lorne full manfully Greit and a peart defence can ma. But when they saw that they were sa Assailyied vpon two parties And saw well that their enemies Had all the fairer of the fight In full greit hy they tooke the flight And they a felloun chase can ma And slew all that they might ouerta And they that might escape perfay Right to a Water held their way That ran downe by the Hilles side That was so straite so déepe and wide That men on no wise might it passe But at a Brig that narrow was To that Brig held they fast their way And to breake it can fast assay â—ut they them chased when they them saw Make their a rest but dread or aw They rushed vpon them hastelie And discomfist them vtterlie And held the Brig haile while the King With all
of foot men and Hobillers Hée came riding out of his Land As I before haue borne on hand And in a night syne and a day Shee set him into so hard assay That hée with few men in a baite Faine was for to hold home his gaite But of this ilke whéele turning King Robert should make no mourning For his side of the whéele on hight Rose when the other downe can light For two contrares yée may wit well Set against other in a whéele When one is hie another is law And if it fall that Fortoun thraw The whéele about it that on hight Was eir on force it mon downe light And it that laigh was vnder aire Mon leape on hight in the contraire So foore it of thir Kings two For when King Robert stad was so That in his greit mischiefe was hée The other was in his Majestie And when the King Edwards might Woxt lesse then Roberts raise on hight And now sik Fortoun came him till That hée was hied and had his will AT Striuiling was hée yet lyand And the greit Lords that hée fand Dead in the field hée gart burie In holie places honourablie And the laue syne that dead were there Into greit Pittes buried were The Castell and the towres syne Euen to the ground downe gart hée myne And syne to Bothwell sent hée Sir Edward with a greit Menyie For they therein send to him word That the rich Erle of Herfurd And other mightie al 's were there So treated he with Sir Walter That Erle and Castell and all the laue Into Sir Edwards hand he gaue Then to the King the Erle sent he That gart him right well kéeped be While at the last they treated sa That he to England home sould ga Without paying of ransome frée And that for him sould changed be Bishop Robert that blinde was made And the Quéene that they taken had In prison as before said I And her Doughter Dame Mariory The Erle was changed for thir thrée And when they commen were home al frée The Kings doughter that was faire And was al 's his appearand aire With Walter Stewart can her wed And they well soone got of their bed A man-childe through Gods grace That efter his good old father was Called Robert and syne was King And had the land in gouerning Efter his worthie sonne Dauy That reigned nine yéeres and threttie And in the time of the compyling Of this booke this last Robert was King And of his Kinrik passed was Five yéeres and was the yéere of grace A thousand thrée hundreth and seuentie And fiue and of his eild sextie And that was efter the good King Robert was brought to his ending Sex and fourtie UUinter but maire GOD grant that they that commen are Of his ofspring maintaine the land And hold the folke well to warrand And maintaine right and eke lawtie Al 's well as in his time did he How King Robert rade in England And brunt vp all Northumberland KIng Robert now was well at hight And ilk day theÌ„ grew more his might His men wort rich and his Countrie Abounded well of corne and fée And of all kinde of other riches And mirth solace and all vlythnes UUas in the haill land commonlie For ilk man blyth was and ioly The King after this great iourney Through réede and counsell of his priuie In sundrie townes gart cry on hight That who so clamed to haue right To hold in Scotland land and fée That within twelue moneths sould he Come and claime it and then to do To the king as pertained thereto And gif they come not in that yéere Then sould they wit withoutten wéere That hard thereafter none sould be The King that was of great bountie Had busiâ—es when this was done One â—ast gact summond after soone And went then into England And ouer rade all Northumberland And brunt townes and tooke their pray And syne went home vpon their way I let it shortly passe far by For there was no great Cheualry Prooued that is to speake of here The King went oft in this manere In England for to rich his men That in riches abounded then How Sir Edward tooke on hand For to make weere into Ireland THe Erle of Carrik Sir Edward That stouter was than a Leopard And had no will to liue at peace Thought that Scotland too litle wes To his brother and him alswa Therefore to purpose can he ta That he of Ireland would be King Therefore he sent and had treating UUith the Irshry of Ireland That in their lawtie tooke on hand Of all Ireland to make him King UUith thy that he with hard feghting Might ouercome the Englishmen That in that land were winning then And they sould helpe with all their might And he that heard them make sik heght Into his heart he had great liking And with the consent of the King Gathered him men of great bountie And syne at Air shipped he Into the neist moneth of May To Ireland held he straight his way And had there in his companie The Erle Thomas that was worthie And good Sir Philip the Mowbray That sikker was in hard assay Sir Iohn Sowles that was wight And Sir Iohn Stewart a good Knight The Ramsay al 's of Oughterhous That was right wise and Cheualrous And Sir Fergus of Ardrossane And other Knights mony ane In Wolyngs Firth arriued they Saiflie but bargane or assay And sent their shippes home againe A great thing haue they vndertane That with so whéene as they were That was seuen thousand men but maire Shupe for to weirray all Ireland Where they fall sée mony thousand Come armed on them for to fight But though they whéene were they were wight And without dread or affray In two battells they tooke their way Toward Craigfergus it to sée But the Lords of that Countrie Maundewile Bisset and Logane Their men they sembled euerilkane The Sauages al 's was with them there And when they all assembled were They were well néere twentie thousand When that they wist that in their land Sik a Menyie arriued were With all the folke that they had there They went toward them in hy And when Sir Edward wist surely That to him néere comming were they His men right well hee gart array The Uangard had the Erle Thomas In the Réeregard Sir Edward was The first battell that Sir Edward Wan in Ireland with feghting hard THeir foes approached to the fighting And they met them but abasing There men might see a full greit melle The Erle Thomas and his Menyie Dang on their foes so doughtely That in short time men might sée ly An hundreth that all bloodie were For hobynes that were sticked there Reilled and flang and greit rowme made And kest them that vpon them rade Sir Edward and his companie Assembled then so hardelie That they their foes their rushed all Who happened in that feght to fall It was greit perill of his rising The
wise was the vittaile tane And of the Irish men mony slane The Erle syne wiâ—h his companie Prisoners and vittaile haillelie They brought all to Sir Edward swyth And he was of their comming blyth That night they made them merie cheare For they euen at their ease now were They were all watched ay sickerlie Their foes vpon the other partie When they heard how their men were slaine And how their vittaile al 's was tane They tooke the counsell that they would Their wayes toward Cogneres hold And harbrie in the Citie ta And in great hy they haue done sa And rode by night to the Citie They found their vittaile great plentie And made them merie and good cheare For in the towne all traist they were Upon the morne they sent to spy Where Scottishmen had tane harbry But they were met with and all tane And brought vnto the Oast ilkane The Erle of Murray right meekelie Speered at one of their companie Where their Oast lay what they thought To doe and said gif that he mought Find that the sooth to him said he He sould gang home but ransome frée He said forsooth I sall you say They thinke the morne when it is day To séeke you with all their Menyie Gif they may get wit where ye be They haue gart through the Citie cry On paine of life full fellounly That all the men of this Countrie The morne into the Citie be And truely they sall be so feill That ye sall no wise with them deale How Thomas Randell chased hame The Scurreours that fra Cogners came DE Pardew said he it may well be To Sir Edward with that yéed he And told him vtterly this tale Then haue they tane for counsell haill That they will ride to the Citie That same night so that they may be Betwixt the toun with all their rout And they that were the toun without As they deuised so haue they done Before the toun they came all soone And but halfe deill a mile of way Fra the toun arest tooke they And when the day was dawning light Fiftie on Hobines that were wight Came to a litle hill that was From the toun a litle space And saw Sir Edwards harbrie And of that sight had great ferlie That so wheene vpon ony wise Durst vndertake so hie emprise As for to come so hardilie Upon all the great Cheualrie Of Ireland to bide battaile And so it was withoutten faile For against them were gaddered there With the Wardane Richard of Clare The Butlers and the Erles twa Of Desmound and Kyldar alswa Brunhame Wedoun and Sir Waryne And Sir Plastayne a Florentyne That was a Knight of Lombardie And was of full great Cheualrie And Maundewell was there alswa Bissatris Loganes and other ma. The Sauages al 's and yet was ane That heght Sir Michel of Kylcalaue And with thir Lords so feill was then That against one of the Scottishmen I wate well they were fiue or ma. When their Discurreours hes séene sa The Scottish Dast they went in hy And told their Lords openly How they to them were comming néere To séeke them far was no mystéere And when the Erle Thomas had séene That tha men at the hill had béene He tooke with him a great Menyie On horse an hundreth they might be And to the hill they tooke their way And in a Slak enbushed they And in short time fra the Citie They saw come ryding a Menyie For to discouer to the hill They were blyth and held them still UUhile they were commen to them neere Then in a rush all that they were They set vpon them hardelie And they that saw so suddenlie Tha folke come on them abased were Yet notthelesse some of them there Abade stoutlie to make debate And other some are fled their gaite And in short time were all tha That made arest disrayed sa That they fled hastelie their gaite And they them chased to the yait And one part of them hes slaine And syne went to their Oast againe The feird battell made in Ireland That Sir Edward wan with strang hand WHen they within hes séene so slaine Their men chased home againe They were all wa and in great hy To armes highly can they cry They armed them all that they were And â—or the battell mad them yare And ished out all well arrayed In haill battell with Baner displayed Boun on their wayes for to assaile Their foes into fell battaile And when Sir Philip the Mowbray Saw them ishe in so good array To Sir Edward the Bruce went he And said Sir it is good that we Shape for some slight that may auaile To help vs in this great battaile Our men are good but they haue will To doe more than they may fulfill Therefore I réede our Cariage Withoutten ony man or page By themselues arrayed bee And they shall séeme far moe than wée Set wee before them our Baner Yone folke that commeth out of Cogners When that out Baners they shall see Shall trow traisâ—lie that they are wée And hidder in greit hy shall ride Come wee then on them at a side And wee shall bée at a vantage For fra they in our Cariage Bée entered they shall cumbred bée And then with all our might may wée Lay on and doe all that wée may And as hée ordainde done haue they And they that came out of Cogners Addressed them to the Baners And strooke the Horse with spurres in hy And rushed among them suddenly The barrell ferrars that were there Cumbred them fast that ryding were And then the Erle and his battaile Came on and sadlie can assaile And Sir Edward a litle by Assembled with his company That mony a fey fell vnder féete The field with blood woxt soone all wéete With so greit fellony there they faught And so greit routes to other raught That it was hiddeous for to see How they maintained that greit melle So kéenelie they faught on either side Giuing and taking routes red That prime was past or men might sée What part soonest abone should bée But soone efter that Prime was past The Scottishmen dang on so fast They set vpon them at aboundoun As ilke man were a Scorpioun That all their foes tooke the flight Was none of them that was so wight That euer durst abide his feere But ilke man fled his wayes seere To the towne fled the most partie And the Erle Thomas so egerlie And his men chased with swords bare That among them they mingled were And all togidder came in the toun Then was the slaughter so felloun That all the rewes ran of the blood Whom euer they gote to death he yood So that there were al 's feill dead Well néere as in the battell steed The Swaryne was taken there And so feared was Richard of Clare That hee held to the South Countrie All that Moneth I trow that hee Shall haue no greit will for to fight Sir Iohn Steward a Noble
plaine harbrie Here followed King Robert in hight The English King with all his might THe King of England and his men That saw their harbreours come then Rebuted on that great maner Annoyed in their hearts they were And thought it was a great folie Into the wood to take harbrie Therefore by Dryburgh in a Plaine They harbried them and syne againe Are went to England but delay And when the King Robert heard say That they were turned home againe And how their harbreours were slaine In hy an Oast assembled he And went foorth ouer the Scots sea Eightie thousand he was and ma And eight battels he made of tha In ilk battell were ten thousand Syne went he foorth to England And in haill rout he followed fast The English King while at the last He came approaching by Byland When at that time there was lyand The King of Englanâ— with his men King Robert that had witting then That he lay there with méekle might Tranoynted so on him one night That on the morne by it was day Commen to the plaine field were they Fra Byland a litle space But betwixt them and it there was A craig bra streiked well lang And a great Path vp for to gang Otherwise might they not haue way To passe to Bylands Abbay Bot gif they passed far about And when the méekle English rout Heard that the King Robert was néere The most part of them that were there Went to the Path to take the bra There thought they their defence to ma Their Baners there they gart display And their battels in brade array And thought well to defend the place When King Robert perceiued hes That they them thought for to defend Efter his counsell hes he send And asked what was best to do The Lord Dowglas answered him to And said Sir I will vnderta That in short time I sall doe sa That I sall win yone place plainely Or then gar all yone company Come downe to you into this Plaine Or ye sall neuer trow me againe The King then said great GOD thée spéed And he on foorth his wayes yeede And of the Oast the most partie Put then into his companie And held their way toward the place The Erle of Murray Sir Thomas Left his battell and in great hy But with few men in company Came to the Court of the Lord Dowglas And ere he entred into the place Before them all the place tooke he For he would that men sould him sée And when the good Lord Dowglas Saw that he so commen was He praised him thereof greatly And welcommed him honorably And to the place can togidder ga When Englishmen saw them doe sa They lighted and against them yéed Two Knights that doughtie were indéed Thomas of Struthers heght one to name And the other Sir Ralph of Cowbanâ— Thir two Knights of good degrée Came downe before all their Menyie They were both of full great bountie And met their foes right manfullie There might men sée well other assaile And men defend with stout battaile And arrowes flee in great fusioun And they that aboue were tumbled doun Stones vpon them from the hight But they that set both will and might To wiâ— the Path and preassed sa That Sir Ralph Cowbane can ta The way right to his Oast in hy And left Sir Thomas manfully Defending with great might the place UUhile that he so supprised was That he was tane through hard fighting And therefore syne while his ending He was renouned the best of hand Of one Knight was in all England For this ilk Sir Ralph of Cowbane In all England he had the name For the best Knight of that land And for Sir Thomas dwelt still fightand Where Sir Ralph as before said we Withdrew him abone him prised was he The discomfiting of Englishmen At Bylands Path into the Glen THus were they fighting in the place And when King Robert that was UUise in his deedes and eke worthie Saw his men ay so doughtelie The Peth vpon their foes ta And saw his foes defend them sa Then gart he all the Irishry That were into his company Of Argyle and Iles alswa Spéede them in hy vnto the bra He bade them leaue the Peth haillely And climbe vp on the Craiges thereby And speed them fast the hight to ta And in greit hy they haue done sa And clambe as Gaites vp to the hight And left not for their foes might Magre their foes they bare them sa That they are gotten abone the bra Then faught they wonder fellounlie And rushed their foes right sturdelie There was a right perilous bargaine For a Knight heght Sir Iohn of Britaine That lighted hes abone the bra With his men greit defence can ma But the Scottishmen can so assaille And gaue to them so feill battaile That they were set in sike effray That they that flée might fled away Sir Iohn of Brittaine there was tane And most part of his MenÈie sâ—aine Of France there were tane Knights two The Lord of Sowllie was one of tho The other was the Marshall Britaine That was a right greit Lord at hame The laue some dead were and some slain The remnand fled were euerilkane And when the King of England As yet at Byland was lyand Saw his men discomfist plainlie Hée tooke his way in full greit hy And Southward fled in all his might The Scots men chased him hard I hight And in the chase hes mony slaine But hee quicklie away is gane And the most part of his MenÈie Walter Stewart of greit bountie Set ay vpon hie Cheualrie With fiue hundreth in companie To Yorke Yates a chase can ma And there some of their men can sâ—a And abade while neere the night To see if ony would ish to fight And when hee saw none would ish out Hée turned againe wiâ—h all his rout And to the Host they went in hy That then had tane their harbery Into the Abbay of Byland And Rewes that were neere by lyand They dealâ— among them that was there And gaue the King of Englands geare That hee had left into Byland All gripped they into their hand And made them glad and eke merrie And when the King had tane Harberie They brought to him their prisoners All vnarmed as it affeeres And when hée saw Iohn of Brittaine Hee had at him full greit disdaine For hee of him would speake highly At home and too dispitefullie Hée bade haue him away in hy And looke hee kéeped were straitlie And said were it not that hée were A Captiâ—e as hée then was there His words hee should full deare aby And hée full fast can cry mercy They let him foorth withoutten maire And kéept him well white that they were Commen home to their owne Countrie Long efter syne ransomed was hee For twentie thousand pound to pay As I haue heard among men say WHen that the King this spéech had made The French Knights they taken had Were brought there